Question

simplify.

Answer 1

You cant have radical functions in the denominator, so multiply both top and bottom of your fraction to get rid of it in the denominator :) \[\frac{2}{\sqrt{5}} \cdot \frac{\sqrt{5}}{\sqrt{5}}\]

Answer 2

so first one is 10.

Answer 3

@Jhannybean

Answer 4

Im not sure what you mean.

Answer 5

you said multiply top and bottom so 2 x 5 = 10

Answer 6

\(\color{blue}{\text{Originally Posted by}}\) @Jhannybean
You cant have radical functions in the denominator, so multiply both top and bottom of your fraction to get rid of it in the denominator :) \[\frac{2}{\sqrt{5}} \cdot \color{red}{\frac{\sqrt{5}}{\sqrt{5}}}\]
\(\color{blue}{\text{End of Quote}}\)

Answer 7

not 5 but \(\sqrt{5}\).

Answer 8

i'm confused. im not sure how to do these problems at all.

Answer 9

Just consider radical functions (anything with square roots) in the denominator of a fraction as improper, so you need to find a way to get rid of it.

Answer 10

And the easiest way to get rid of it is by multiplying the square root to the top and bottom of the fraction. This helps turn the square root at the bottom of the fraction into an integer (whole) number.

Answer 11

Are you following?

Answer 12

yes

Answer 13

So when you multiply a square root by itself, you get a whole number. Think of the variable a as any number, so...\[\sqrt{a}\cdot \sqrt{a} = a\]

Answer 14

Therefore when we multiply both top and bottom of the fraction by \(\sqrt{5}\), you will have \[\large \frac{2}{\color{red}{\sqrt{5}}} \cdot \frac{\sqrt{5}}{\color{red}{\sqrt{5}}}=\frac{2\sqrt{5}}{\color{red}{5}}\]This is because \[\color{red}{\sqrt{5} \cdot \sqrt{5} = 5}\]

Answer 15

Do you understand how this works now, @kaylamarie102 ? :)

Answer 16

yes

Answer 17

Awesome!